Dennis Rodman Charged with Hit-and-Run

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — Former NBA star Dennis Rodman was charged today in a hit-and-run for driving the wrong way on the freeway and causing a crash. Rodman, a 55-year-old Newport Beach resident, was charged with several misdemeanor violations, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Chief of Staff Susan Kang-Schroeder. Deputy District Attorney Gautam Sood of the Special Prosecutions Unit will prosecute the case.

Rodman is charged with:

• one misdemeanor count of hit-and-run with property damage
• one misdemeanor count of driving a motor vehicle across a dividing section
• one misdemeanor count of giving false information to a police officer
• one misdemeanor count of driving a motor vehicle without a valid license.

"If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of two years in county jail," Kang-Schroeder said.

Rodman is scheduled to be arraigned on Jan. 20, 2017, at 8:30 a.m.

On July 20 at approximately 12:30 a.m. Rodman drove his sport utility vehicle north in the southbound carpool lane on Interstate 5 near Main Street in Santa Ana.

"The lane bears concrete dividing walls on either side," Kang-Schroeder said. "Rodman is accused of driving head-on toward a sedan, causing the driver of the sedan to swerve and crash into a dividing wall to avoid contact with the defendant’s vehicle."

The victim called 911, and California Highway Patrol officers responded to the scene.

"Rodman is accused of failing to exchange information with the other driver and fleeing the scene prior to CHP’s arrival," Kang-Schroeder said.

CHP identified Rodman during the course of its investigation, though Rodman is accused of giving verbal false accounts to investigating officers.

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